Trajectory Optimization with a Solar Sail: My GTOC13 Experience
The Global Trajectory Optimization Competition (GTOC) brings together astrodynamics, optimization, and creative problem-solving: it is the "America's Cup of rocket science" . This year I took part in the competition for the first time, and managed to enter the leaderboard with a respectable final score. In this post, the first part gives a high-level overview of how I approached the challenge, while the (more technical) second part will discuss the implementation details of my solution. This year's edition revolved around the exploration of the exoplanetary system of the fictional star Altaira, whose planets sport a variety of pop-culture-inspired names. Assuming the interstellar leg is already taken care of, the task was to design a trajectory that maximizes the number and scientific value of reconnaissance close approaches with Altaira’s planets, asteroids, and comets. The dynamical model includes unpowered gravity assists with the major planets (minor bo...